Newton, MA The Rockport Group, a leader in men’s and women’s footwear since 1971, has moved its global corporate headquarters to the village of West Newton. The move comes nearly 18 months after the company became a standalone entity following its acquisition by Boston-based investment firm Berkshire Partners LLC and New Balance Holding, Inc., the investment arm of New Balance. The business was previously owned by the adidas Group and located in Canton.
The Rockport Group’s new office is located in a brick-and-beam building at 1220 Washington St. in a space owned and managed by Davis Marcus Partners, a venture of The Davis Companies and Marcus Partners Inc. Inspired by the company’s New England heritage, the 70,000 s/f layout was renovated by Boston-based architectural firm Baker Design Group to feature: industrial-themed staircases, exposed brick, large windows, an open-concept cafeteria, and a main lounge area featuring a double-sided fireplace. Classic yet modern, the new headquarters is home to more than 200 employees.
The Rockport Group president & CEO Bob Infantino, said “We are excited to call Newton the home of The Rockport Group’s new global headquarters. We were founded in Massachusetts in 1971 and are proud to continue our legacy in the greater Boston area. Our head office is a hub for our employees around the world across all three of our brands – Rockport, Aravon and Dunham – and our heritage and commitment to the art of shoemaking is reflected in our new space.”
Infantino and mayor Setti Warren celebrated the opening of the company’s new headquarters with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Attendees included city councilors as well as representatives from Berkshire, New Balance, the Newton Chamber of Commerce and Davis Marcus Partners.
Mayor Warren said, “We welcome The Rockport Group into Newton with open arms. The company joins a neighborhood filled with other thriving businesses, popular restaurants, shopping, and easy access to Boston. I’m excited to see how Rockport continues to grow within our diverse community.”
The Rockport Group is home to the Aravon, Dunham and Rockport brands and the popular Rockport Cobb Hill Collection. With its diverse assortment of men’s and women’s footwear, products from The Rockport Group can be found in various retail channels in more than 60 countries worldwide. Headquartered in the greater Boston area, The Rockport Group is committed to its history of innovation and a consumer-centric approach to style, fit and comfort.
Committed to excellence in both investment performance and operations, The Davis Companies is an integrated real estate investment, development and management firm headquartered in Boston that has invested more than $4 billion in gross asset value through real estate equity, debt, and fixed-income securities. A unique combination of capital markets, development and management expertise allows The Davis Companies to nimbly tackle complex and contrarian opportunities. Directly, and with its valued partners, The Davis Companies currently owns a real estate portfolio of approximately 12 million s/f across the Eastern United States.
Marcus Partners is a value-oriented real estate investment firm based in Boston, with regional offices in Norwalk, CT and Secaucus, NJ. It currently owns/manages a diversified portfolio that includes more than 5 million s/f of office, biomedical, mixed-use, medical office, R&D and industrial properties located along the East Coast. Grounded by a deep belief in value investing, and experienced in the complexities of real estate operations and the capital markets, Marcus Partners has built a reputation as a trusted and effective investment partner, known for its integrity, insight and creativity.
